Alabama — Headlights glow softly through a gray veil as fog settles into valleys and low-lying roads before sunrise. Moist air clings to pavement, muting sounds and shrinking sightlines just as Christmas morning travel begins.
Across northern Alabama and the Tennessee Valley, patchy fog is reducing visibility early today. Some locations are seeing visibility drop to around one-quarter mile, especially near rivers, open fields, and rural corridors. The National Weather Service in Huntsville warns that locally dense fog may linger through the morning hours.
Drivers along I-565, U.S. 72, and secondary roads around Huntsville and Decatur should expect sudden visibility changes. Conditions can deteriorate quickly when moving between neighborhoods, bridges, and open stretches of roadway. To be fair, some areas may clear faster than others, but pockets of fog remain stubborn.
Morning commuters are urged to slow down and adjust driving habits. Use low-beam headlights, increase following distance, and allow extra time to reach destinations. After all, fog-related crashes often happen when drivers outpace what they can see.
As the morning progresses, gradual improvement is expected. Fog should thin as temperatures rise and daylight mixing improves visibility. For now, damp pavement and reduced contrast can still make it harder to spot stopped vehicles or pedestrians.
Looking ahead toward weekend and post-Christmas travel, milder air remains in place across northern Alabama. While no winter precipitation is expected, lingering moisture may allow fog to redevelop tonight in similar areas. Travelers heading out Sunday or into Monday should stay alert for early-morning visibility issues.
